Mancini short at left-back with Kolarov facing two months out

Kolarov is currently out injured (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester City fear that their new £19m left-back Aleksandar Kolarov could be out for more than two months after injuring ankle ligaments against Tottenham on Saturday. The latest medical bulletin on Kolarov is that his injury is worse than Roberto Mancini first thought and leaves the City manager with a problem at left-back with Wayne Bridge also out for two weeks. The club have spent around £130m on players this summer but it means that Mancini must look at co-opting Gareth Barry or possibly Joleon Lescott in the position.

Another possible replacement, Jerome Boateng, a £11m signing from Hamburg, has a cut to his leg and is not certain to be fit for Monday's game against Liverpool.

Another of City's high-profile additions, the midfielder James Milner, insists he still has much to learn even though he made his Premier League debut eight years ago at 16. And the England midfielder believes Eastlands is the perfect place to develop his game after finally sealing his protracted move from Aston Villa.

"I've been lucky with my team-mates and managers, and you have to learn when you are surrounded by top players," he said. "You try to take the best things out of their game, add them to your own, and try to become the best player you can. If you're not improving and learning every day then there's something wrong. This is a great club that's going places very quickly. I played at Maine Road with Leeds and the new stadium has always had a great atmosphere when I've played there."

Ahead of last night's Europa League tie in Romania, City's captain, Carlos Tevez, sai d that he believes he can break through the 30-goal barrier for his club this season. "As a striker every year you set targets. I hope I can score more goals this season," he said.

The Argentina international, who helped Manchester United win the Champions League, is proud to wear the armband in the blue corner of the city. "I am very happy," he said. "I have to say thank you to the manager and the players. All games and all competitions are very important to me. I hope to win a trophy for City."

Tevez is looking forward to linking up with Mario Balotelli following the 20-year-old striker's arrival from Internazionale. The Argentine said: "Mario is an excellent player. I know about him from his time at Inter, where he played well."